Study Desk

‘Azaryah the son of Hilkiyah the son of Meshulam the son of Tzadok the son of M'rayot the son of Achituv the ruler of the house of God,

and their kinsmen, leaders of their fathers' clans, 1,760 very competent men available for serving in the house of God.

For the four chief gatekeepers were on permanent duty; they were the L'vi'im in charge of accommodations and supplies in the house of God.

They spent their nights in the vicinity of the house of God, because they were in charge of it; they were responsible for opening it up each morning.

In the past, even when Sha'ul was king, it was you who led Isra'el's military campaigns; and Adonai your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Isra'el, and you will be chief over my people Isra'el.'"

and said, "My God forbid that I should do such a thing! Am I to drink the blood of these men who went and put their lives in jeopardy? They risked their lives to bring it!" — and he would not consent to drink it. These are the things the three warrior-heroes did.

When David went out to meet them, he said, "If you are coming to me in peace to help me, my heart will be bonded to yours. But if you are coming to betray me to my enemies, then, since I have done nothing wrong, may the God of our fathers see it and judge."

Then the Spirit covered ‘Amasai the chief commander, and he said: "We are yours, David; on your side, son of Yishai! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers; for your God helps you." David welcomed them and made them senior officers.

Indeed, reinforcements to assist David reached him daily, until there was a great army, like the army of God.

Then David said to the entire assembly of Isra'el, "If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of Adonai our God, let's send messengers to the rest of our kinsmen in the land of Isra'el, and also to the cohanim and L'vi'im in their cities with surrounding open land, asking them to join us;

and let's bring back the ark of our God to ourselves, since we didn't go after it when Sha'ul was king."

So David summoned all Isra'el to come together, from Shichor in Egypt all the way to the entrance of Hamat, to bring the ark of God from Kiryat-Ye‘arim.

David went up with all Isra'el to Ba‘alah, that is, Kiryat-Ye‘arim, which belonged to Y'hudah, to bring up from there the ark of God, Adonai , who is enthroned above the k'ruvim, bearing the Name.

They set the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Avinadav, with ‘Uza and Achyo, the sons of Avinadav, driving the cart.

David and all Isra'el celebrated in the presence of God with all their strength, with songs, lyres, lutes, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.

But Adonai 's anger blazed up against ‘Uza, and he struck him down, because he had put out his hand and touched the ark, so that he died there before God.

That day, God frightened David; he asked, "How can I bring the ark of God to me?"

The ark of God stayed with the family of ‘Oved-'Edom the Gitti in his house for three months; and Adonai blessed the household of ‘Oved-'Edom and all he had.

David consulted God, asking, "Should I attack the P'lishtim? Will you hand them over to me?" Adonai answered David, "Attack; I will hand them over to you."

So they went up to Ba‘al-P'ratzim, and David defeated them there. David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my power like a river breaking through its banks." This is why they called the place Ba‘al-P'ratzim [Lord of breaking through].